Printing machine comprising a blow air unit for drying stock

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a printing machine, preferably a rotation printing machine, with at least one guide roller ( 14 ), which is mounted between two side frames ( 7, 8 ). A printing substrate can be guided via the guide roller and at least one print roller can be placed on the guide roller. The printing machine has at least one blast air unit ( 2 ) that is arranged in the rotation direction of the guide roller ( 14 ) behind the print roller. The blast air unit ( 2 ) blows out blast air on the substrate that can be inserted into and removed from its working position. The blast air unit ( 2 ) comprises inlet and outlet openings ( 29, 30 ) that can be connected to frame-fixed air inlets ( 10 ) and air vents ( 11 ) wherein the air inlets ( 10 ) and the air vents ( 11 ) and/or the inlet and outlet openings ( 29, 30 ) are bordered by sealings ( 26, 28 ). The printing machine is characterized in that, the blast air unit ( 2 ) can be moved during the insertion process in two directions that are independent of one another.

The invention relates to a printing machine according to the genericterm of claim 1.

In order to be able to observe the print images behind the individualprinting units, particularly in the print proof, it is necessary totemporarily move the blast air units from their working positions in theprinting machine since they conceal the view of the printing substrateif they are placed tightly against a roller guiding the printingsubstrate, for instance, an impression cylinder. Furthermore, the blastair units on which and in which fine ink spray and other dirt particlescan get deposited during the printing operation can be removed forcleaning purposes.

In a device known from DE 199 93 607 A1 of the aforementioned type, theblast air unit can be moved away from the impression cylinder in asubstantially radial direction and can be placed against it again byguiding the blast air unit via slides or carriages in frame-fixedguides. In order to connect the blast device to the lines supplying anddischarging the blast air, the blast air unit is provided with couplingpieces that can be coupled to the lines, each of which is accommodatedin a side frame. The connection pieces of the blast air unit and the airinlets and the air vents of the lines supplying and discharging theblast air have sealing rings comprising elastomer material for thepurpose of a sealed connection. Since the sealings rub against oneanother each time the blast air unit is moved away and moved back, thesealing effect reduces after a short while.

Therefore, the task of the invention is to create a printing machine ofthe aforementioned type in which it is possible, even after longerperiods of time, to create a very tight-connection between the inlet andoutlet openings of the blast air unit and the air inlets and air vents.

The task is solved by the features specified in the characteristics ofclaim 1.

According to this, the blast air unit can be moved during the insertionprocess in two directions that are independent of one another. Thesemovement options make it possible to bring the blast air unit firstlyclose to the printing substrate guided on the guide roller, without thesealings located on the lines or the air inlets and air vents contactingone another. Independent of this movement, the blast air unit canadditionally be moved in such a manner that the sealings attached to theblast air unit and/or its openings are pressed on the sealings of theair inlets and air vents without the sealings rubbing against oneanother. Of course these movements can be reversed in order to separatethe blast air unit from the air inlets and the air vents and in order tobe able to move away the blast air unit from the guide roller for thepurpose of observing the printing substrate.

In doing do, it is advantageous firstly if the blast air unit can bemoved in one direction in such a manner that subsequently the inletopening with the air inlet and the outlet opening with the air vent lieon the same alignment axis and secondly if the blast air unit can bemoved in a second direction that runs parallel to the alignment axes.Such directions of movement make it possible to displace the blast airunit first in the direction of the printing substrate and subsequentlydisplace the blast air unit in the second direction so as to create atight connection between the blast air unit and the air inlets and airvents, without loading the sealings with shear stresses. For thispurpose however, both the directions of movement are not required to beorthogonal to one another.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the blast air unit can bemoved in the second direction running parallel to the alignment axes viaforce application and/or transfer means. Since the sealings compriseelastomer material, they exert a reset force if pressed together. Thisforce must be overcome during the displacement of the blast air unit forwhich a force application and/or transfer means is provided. If thesealings are separated from one another the adhesive forces frequentlyprevent a complete separation requiring the application of forces evenin this case. The force application means can provide the force, forinstance, by energy conversion such as in an electric motor. However,even magnetic forces can be used for the said purpose. An example offorce transferring means can be piston cylinder units that provide thepressure of compressed air directly as mechanical force.

In an additional embodiment of the invention, the force provided by theforce application and/or transfer means can be fed into a support means.In this manner the force provided or acting at another point can besupplied to a desired point of action. An example of such support meanscan be threaded rods that execute, using the available force via spindlenuts, a linear movement with respect to the spindle nuts.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, at least duringthe displacement of the blast air unit in the second direction runningparallel to the alignment axes, the support means are connected to acomponent providing a counteracting force. The support means thusaffects the movement of the blast air unit with respect to the airinlets and air vents. If the blast air unit is in its working position,the connection can remain intact so that the connection between thesealings cannot be detached unintentionally. The force applicationand/or transfer means, the support means and also the componentsproviding the counteracting force can be attached to the air inlets andair vents.

However, it is advantageous if the force application and/or transfermeans are mounted on the blast air unit.

In a preferred embodiment, the force application and/or transfer meansare a clamping lever and/or a springy element. The clamping lever can beused to bring the blast air unit into its working position.Simultaneously, the applied force can be used to stress a springyelement, for example a pressure spring, and its energy can be used laterin order to separate the connection of the blast air unit to the airinlets and air vents reliably again.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the support meanscomprise at least one bolt running substantially parallel to thealignment axes.

The bolt is advantageously mounted on the blast air unit such that itcan be displaced. Due to this measure the clamping lever, the springyelement and the bolt form a functional unit. Using the clamping leverthe bolt can be pushed away from the blast air unit. Using the force ofthe spring acting in opposition, the bolt can then be attached againsince the counteracting force acts on the bolt at the same time. Theblast air unit can be moved by activating the clamping lever.

In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the componentproviding a counteracting force is a centering piece and/or a hookattached to a side frame. In order to be set below the hook, the boltcan carry a disk on its end that is turned toward the side frame. Theadvantage of a centering piece is that the blast air unit, during themovement in the second direction running parallel to the alignment axes,only executes a movement in the first direction of movement that isindependent of it and not accidentally.

In another embodiment of the invention, the support means can be fixedafter reaching the working position of the blast air unit. The supportmeans can be fixed, for example, using the clamping lever that can beprovided for this purpose with a depression.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention is explained in thefollowing description and on the drawings.

The individual figures illustrate:

FIG. 1 blast air unit of a printing machine according to the inventionin a position in which it is moved away from the supply and dischargelines.

FIG. 2 blast air unit of a printing machine according to the inventionin its working position.

FIG. 1 illustrates a section of a printing machine according to theinvention. This section represents the drying station 1 comprising theblast air unit 2. In order to be able to move the blast air unit towardand away again from the impression cylinder 14, hand grips 3 areattached to the blast air unit 2. On the lateral front walls of theblast air unit 2 are rolls 4 with which the blast air unit is supportedon guide rails 5. The guide rails 5 are attached with stud bolts 6 tothe side frames 7, 8. The side frame 8 is provided with an opening 9through which the air inlet 10 and the air vent 11 pass. Both connectionpieces 10, 11 are attached to the side frame 8 in a manner that is notillustrated in the figure. The air inlet 10 is connected via a supplyair hose 12 to a blast air supply. The exhaust air concentrated withsolvents is discharged via air vents 11 and an exhaust air hose 13. Theair inlets and air vents 10, 11 are connected to a counter hold sheetplate on their side that is opposite to the hoses 12, 13. Sealings 26are attached on these ends of the air inlets and air vents.

A quick clamping unit is attached to the side of the blast air unit 2that is turned toward the side frame 7. The bolt 21 is displaceablymounted in a guide 16. Inside this guide 16, a pressure spring that isnot illustrated in the figure acts on the bolt 21 in such a manner thatthe bolt constantly experiences a force in the direction of the lever18. The lever 18 is also connected using a bar 17 to the guide 16 sothat the range of the movement of the bolt 21 is limited.

In this initial position of the bolt 21, a disk 22 that is attached tothe end of the bolt that is turned toward the side frame 7 sets in placebelow the hook 25 that is connected via a receptacle 24 firmly to theside frame 7. The reset force of the pressure spring together with thehook 25 causes a relative movement of the blast air unit in thedirection of the side frame 7 wherein the movement range is determinedby the bar 17 in such a manner that the blast air unit 2 does notcontact the sealings 26 any more.

If a tight connection is created between the air inlets and air vents10, 11 and the blast air unit 2, then the blast air unit 2 must be movedin the direction of the side frame 8. For this purpose the lever 18 isequipped with an eccentric 20. If the lever 18 is turned over via thehand grip 19 by the operating personnel, the eccentric 20 presses thebolt 21 in the direction of the side frame 7. The centering piece 23,attached to the bolt 21, is set in a borehole of the receptacle 24.After a short idle run, the disk 22 bears on the receptacle 24 so thatthe bolt 21 can no longer move with respect to the side frame 7. If thelever 18 is further activated, the blast air unit 2 moves in thedirection of the side frame 8 so that the blast air unit 2 finallyreaches its working position.

In this working position, the blast air unit 2 rests against the counterhold sheet plate 27. This position is illustrated in FIG. 2. In doing sothe sealings 26 are pressed against the counter sealings 28 that borderthe inlet opening 29 and the outlet opening of the blast air unit 2. Inthe working position, the lever 18 is turned over in such a manner thatthe reset force of the spring presses the bolt 21 into the depressionbetween the eccentric 20 and the lever 18. The unintentional detachmentof the lever 18 is thus prevented. List of reference symbols 1 Dryingstation 2 Blast air unit 3 Hand grip 4 Rolls 5 Guide rail 6 Stud bolt 7Side frame 8 Side frame 9 Opening 10 Air inlet 11 Air vent 12 Supply airhose 13 Exhaust air hose 14 Impression cylinder 15 Quick clamping unit16 Guide 17 Bar 18 Lever 19 Hand grip 20 Eccentric 21 Bolt 22 Disk 23Centering piece 24 Receptacle (retainer) 25 Hook 26 Sealings 27 Counterhold sheet metal 28 Counter sealing 29 Inlet opening 30 Outlet opening

1. Printing machine, preferably a rotation printing machine with atleast one guide roller (14), which is mounted between two side frames(7, 8). A printing substrate can be guided via the guide roller and atleast one print roller can be placed on the guide roller. The printingmachine has at least one blast air unit (2) that is arranged in therotation direction of the guide roller (14) behind the print roller. Theblast air unit (2) blows out blast air on the substrate that can beinserted into and removed from its working position. The blast air unitcomprises inlet and outlet openings (29, 30) that can be connected toframe-fixed air inlets (10) and air vents (11) wherein the air inlets(10) and the air vents (11) and/or the inlet and outlet openings (29,30) are bordered by sealings (26, 28). The printing machine ischaracterized in that the blast air unit (2) can be moved during theinsertion process in two directions that are independent of one another.2. Printing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that theblast air unit (2) can firstly be moved during the insertion process inone direction in such a manner that the inlet opening (29) with the airinlet (10) and the outlet opening (30) with the air vent (11) each lieon the same alignment axes, and secondly in a second direction that runsparallel to the alignment axes.
 3. Printing machine according to claim2, characterized in that the blast air unit (2) can be moved in thesecond direction that runs parallel to the alignment axes via forceapplication and/or transfer means (15, 17, 18, 19).
 4. Printing machineaccording to claim 3 characterized in that the force provided by thesaid force application and/or transfer means (15, 17, 18, 19) is fedinto support means (21, 22, 23).
 5. Printing machine according to claim4, characterized in that the support means (21, 22, 23) are connected atleast during the displacement of the blast air unit (2) in the seconddirection running parallel to the alignment axes to a component (24, 25)providing a counteracting force.
 6. Printing machine according to claim3, characterized in that the force application and/or transfer means(15, 17, 18, 19) are supported on the blast air unit (2).
 7. Printingmachine according to claim 3, characterized in that the forceapplication and/or transfer means is a clamping lever (15, 17, 18, 19)and/or a springy element.
 8. Printing machine according to claim 3,characterized in that the support means comprise at least one bolt (21,22) that is substantially aligned parallel to the alignment axes. 9.Printing machine according to claim 8, characterized in that the bolt(21, 22) is displaceably mounted on the blast air unit (2).
 10. Printingmachine according to claim 3, characterized in that a componentproviding the counteracting force is a centering piece (24) that isattached to a side frame (7, 8) and/or a hook (25).
 11. Printing machineaccording to claim 3, characterized in that the support means (21, 22)can be fixed after reaching the working position of the blast air unit(2).
 12. Process for inserting a blast air unit (2) in its workingposition in a printing machine wherein the blast air unit (2) in itsworking position applies blast air on a printing substrate that isguided on a guide roller (14) and just printed and wherein the blast airunit (2) comprises inlet and outlet openings (29, 30) that are borderedwith sealings (28) and connected to frame-fixed air inlets and air vents(10, 11) that are also bordered with sealings (26). The process ischaracterized in that the blast air unit (2) is moved during theinsertion process in two directions that are independent of one another.13. Process according to claim 12, characterized in that the blast airunit (2) can firstly be moved during the insertion process in onedirection in such a manner that the inlet opening (29) aligns with theair inlet (10) and the outlet opening (30) with the air vent (11) andthat the blast air unit (2) is moved in a second direction that runsparallel to the alignment axes.